Heritage studies is a new inter-disciplinary field of studies, bringing together professionals and academics who explore how the past is used in the present. We think about who ‘owns’ the past; how selected aspects of past traditions and objects are preserved but not others; why the idea of heritage has changed dramatically during the twentieth century and what heritage might cover in the twenty first century. What is heritage outside a museum? What has been changing inside the museums? Can you read, speak, eat heritage? Critical heritage studies is driven by people working with aspects of the past who question the whole process of making heritage, from the science of conservation to the ethical dilemmas of keeping human remains, from residents of concrete council housing proclaiming their sense of place to the uses of war memorials in national memory.
The heritage studies programme is currently overseen by Dr Susie West in the Faculty of Arts. However, many staff at the Open University are involved in the heritage studies programme or research into related topics.
We offer a Level 2 module Understanding Global Heritage (AD281). A variety of sample materials from this module is available online. We also offer OpenLearn materials putting the big heritage questions into local perspective, which is a great place to start: heritage on your doorstep.
The interfaculty Heritage Studies Research Group is the Open University network for staff and postgraduate students involved in heritage research. Membership is open to all interested staff and postgraduates at the Open University. Follow this link to find out more.
Susie is the administrator for and regular contributor to the Art History and Heritage blog.
